Now Commenting On:

Strikeouts nice but not Floyd's priority

Gavin Floyd discusses his five-inning outing against the Cubs and what pitches he's working on as the team gets closer to Opening Day

By Scott Merkin
/
MLB.com |

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- After striking out five over five innings during a 4-2 loss to the D-backs on Wednesday, Gavin Floyd took the team Cactus League lead with 15 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings.

But the right-hander, who has no fewer than 144 strikeouts in each of the last five seasons, with a high of 163, doesn't consider himself a strikeout pitcher.

"When you need a strikeout, you get a strikeout. But I like to get guys out," Floyd said. "That's been the way to get into the game late and to stay in the ballgame as long as possible. You try to strike out everyone and I don't think you're really going [to last long] … unless you are throwing three pitches each time."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.